Belt Dryer for Sewage Sludge

The drying of sewage sludge is a central issue for municipal and industrial operations. With a HARTER belt dryer for sewage sludge, you reduce volume, weight, and costs – while achieving maximum energy efficiency and process reliability.

Thanks to heat pump technology, the drying process operates exhaust-free, low-odor, and independently of ambient air.

How HARTER develops customized systems is shown here: How solutions for heat pump dryers are created.
Technical background information can be found under: Energy-saving drying with heat pump.

In the belt dryer, the pre-clarified and mechanically dewatered sludge is evenly applied to a moving conveyor belt. In the closed drying chamber, dehumidified, tempered air circulates in a closed loop. Moisture is gently extracted, while the water is discharged in the heat pump’s condenser.

Advantages at a glance:

• up to 70% energy savings compared to conventional hot air drying
• uniform residual moisture levels due to consistent airflow
• exhaust-free operation without odor emissions
• low-maintenance plant technology with high availability
• flexible adaptation to throughput and sludge structure

The process parameters – temperature, air volume, and humidity – can be precisely controlled and monitored. This makes the HARTER belt dryer ideal for municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial operations aiming for a sustainable disposal strategy.

Insights into efficiency and scalability are offered by: Expanding capacities with heat pump dryers.

HARTER supplies belt dryers for a wide variety of sludge types and applications – from municipal wastewater treatment plants to special wastewater from industrial processes.

Typical applications:

• Municipal and industrial sewage sludges
• Metal hydroxide sludges and electroplating residues
• Food and biogas sludges
• Chemical or pharmaceutical filter cakes

System Configuration:

• Continuous operation for high drying capacity
• Multi-level belt guidance for optimized space utilization
• Individually adapted airflow (vertical or horizontal)
• Stainless steel construction for durability and hygiene

Drying takes place at temperatures from 30 °C to 75 °C – gently, energy-efficiently, and uniformly. Thanks to the modular design, the system can be easily integrated into existing process lines.

Before implementation, HARTER tests your original sludges in the technical center. There, the optimal process parameters – temperature, air volume, and drying time – are determined as the basis for a validated series production plant.

Further cross-industry solutions can be found under: Industries.

We dry with dry air and deliver it to the right places: A perfect interplay of air preparation and air guidance provides you with the best possible drying result.

With a HARTER belt dryer, you rely on future-proof technology that is ecologically and economically convincing. The closed air circuit prevents energy losses and protects the environment from emissions.

Sustainable advantages:

• up to 70% lower energy consumption
• CO₂ reduction through recovery of process heat
• no exhaust air emissions or odor emissions
• eligible technology according to current energy efficiency guidelines
• short payback periods due to low operating costs

Drying significantly reduces sludge volume and simplifies transport and utilization. Thanks to automatic process control, the systems operate largely maintenance-free and 24/7 in continuous operation.

How HARTER develops such customized systems is shown here: How solutions for heat pump dryers are created.